Today was the first day of the Unicycling Society of America’s 1998
National Unicycle Convention, in Monrovia, California (a suburb of
Los Angeles).
Having the NUC in (or near, to be more exact) my hometown worked against
me in unexpected ways. I couldn't make a clean break from my daily job,
I felt less pressure to meet a packing deadline, etc., so, well, I
missed the MUni and the unicycle hockey demonstration.
I believe that the MUni was down the Mt. Wilson Toll Road. That's a dirt
road (and, no, they no longer collect a toll to use it), about 10 miles
long, with an elevation drop of about 4500'. The day was hot and smoggy
along the San Gabriel mountains, and one participant reacted so severely
to the heat and/or air quality that a trip to the hospital was required.
Good news, though: he was back at the NUC by the evening workshops.
The unicycle hockey demonstration was held adjacent to the old Monrovia
downtown shopping street, which has been taken over by a multiblock
stree fair and farmer's market. The demonstration was over when I
arrived, and again, the heat was cited as a concern. The street fair was
quite nice, by the way, and well worth the visit.
Andy Cotter and Dana Schneider gave a press interview and photo op while
I was there.
At 1900 the NUC moved to the local YMCA, which will be the site of most
of the artistic competitions. It has the usual double basketball court,
but there's *very* limited seating in the room. Workshops were held
there, in a multipurpose room, and outside; I attended John Foss' MUni
workshop. We had some fun on a grass hillside, and on a (very
small-scale) skateboard exercise area.
Checkin was at the Monrovia Holiday Inn. It was very
efficient and friendly, and the hotel, where most of the out-of-town
NUC participants are staying, I imagine, seemed very well appointed.
The different event venues are spread out over a few miles. This is very
different from the usual NUC, in my (ralatively limited) experience. I
haven't asked about public transportation to get from one place to
another; I'll try to report on the topic tomorrow.
It was nice seeing the many of the people that I see only at NUCs,
although I suspect that not everyone has arrived yet. Quite a few people
have made the trip from the Midwest to California, and we'll all have a
lot of fun together, I'm sure.
Well, that's it for day one of news from the 1998 USA NUC.
Craig Milo Rogers